I was talking to to my son last night (Iowa State/Iowa fan), and he asked about Rice. As I talked, I realized that for the first time in a long time, I am actually optimistic in fact, not just in name, for our prospects next year in football and basketball (both teams).

I was wondering if other people shared this optimism, and also how they defined a good season in each of the three sports mentioned.

For me, it would be at least NIT for both basketball teams with a chance at the NCAA.

For football, it would be qualifying for a bowl with a game or two to spare.

Perhaps what makes me the most optimistic is the lack of players entering the transfer portal. It feels like our players fully believe this is a capable team. When the football season ended with straight losses, and barely sneaking into a bowl just to lose, I fully expected our best players to be demoralized and want out. McCaffrey finally decided to be a receiver like Nebraska wanted him to be, and he probably could have gone back to a P5 school as a receiver. But instead it looks like the only players transferring are the ones who likely won't get a lot of playing time.
I think that showed last year, with the grit we showed against UAB, UH, UTEP, LA Tech. Having a team that's fully bought into whatever the coaches are selling while also bringing in a solid QB and our best recruiting class ever? Sounds like a recipe for success.
And this seems to apply to the basketball team too. Only big transfer was Olivari who had already spent 4(?) years here and we're also bringing a crazy good recruiting class there. And the women's team just seems to trending upward so I just expect them to get better with experience.

(04-20-2023 07:14 PM)TheOwl84 Wrote:  Perhaps what makes me the most optimistic is the lack of players entering the transfer portal. It feels like our players fully believe this is a capable team. When the football season ended with straight losses, and barely sneaking into a bowl just to lose, I fully expected our best players to be demoralized and want out. McCaffrey finally decided to be a receiver like Nebraska wanted him to be, and he probably could have gone back to a P5 school as a receiver. But instead it looks like the only players transferring are the ones who likely won't get a lot of playing time.
I think that showed last year, with the grit we showed against UAB, UH, UTEP, LA Tech. Having a team that's fully bought into whatever the coaches are selling while also bringing in a solid QB and our best recruiting class ever? Sounds like a recipe for success.
And this seems to apply to the basketball team too. Only big transfer was Olivari who had already spent 4(?) years here and we're also bringing a crazy good recruiting class there. And the women's team just seems to trending upward so I just expect them to get better with experience.

Good post. Although I want to see how the OL looks before getting too optimistic.

We have enough men’s basketball talent to be in the NCAA tournament. But a lot of teams can say that who don’t come close to the tournament.

I’d be disappointed if the women aren’t in the NCAA tournament.

(04-20-2023 07:53 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  

(04-20-2023 07:14 PM)TheOwl84 Wrote:  Perhaps what makes me the most optimistic is the lack of players entering the transfer portal. It feels like our players fully believe this is a capable team. When the football season ended with straight losses, and barely sneaking into a bowl just to lose, I fully expected our best players to be demoralized and want out. McCaffrey finally decided to be a receiver like Nebraska wanted him to be, and he probably could have gone back to a P5 school as a receiver. But instead it looks like the only players transferring are the ones who likely won't get a lot of playing time.
I think that showed last year, with the grit we showed against UAB, UH, UTEP, LA Tech. Having a team that's fully bought into whatever the coaches are selling while also bringing in a solid QB and our best recruiting class ever? Sounds like a recipe for success.
And this seems to apply to the basketball team too. Only big transfer was Olivari who had already spent 4(?) years here and we're also bringing a crazy good recruiting class there. And the women's team just seems to trending upward so I just expect them to get better with experience.

Good post. Although I want to see how the OL looks before getting too optimistic.

We have enough men’s basketball talent to be in the NCAA tournament. But a lot of teams can say that who don’t come close to the tournament.

I’d be disappointed if the women aren’t in the NCAA tournament.

And, of course, volleyball should be preseason Top 20, and overwhelming favorites to win the AAC.